The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-06-16
RETURN OF The IKE Au h0u."

UUN uUS ne nv
The three masted schooner he
Au Hou, belonging to the Pacific
Navigation Co., left Honolulu on
April 3Oth, on a searching expedi-
ton after the long absent and over
due schooner General Seigel. The
Ke Au Hou made way for Birds
Island direct, arriving there May
2nd. Anchored mile and half
off the lee side; saw so sign of
life or of there ever having been
any living thing there. The next
day made Necor Island, n barren
reef about $50 miles from Birds
Island, and having become satisfied
that Necor Island contained no
object of interest, sail was set for
French Frigate Shoals. On May
4th, made the Shoals; stood inside
the reef and anchored. A hard
wind from the N. Z. sprung up and
the sea became very rough. Got
under way again and went all
around the reef, finding 81 fathoms
of water at nearly all soundings,
and turtles and birds too numerous
to count. At 8 p. NJ, May 9th,
passed Brooks Reef, steering w.
by s. Made Moro Reef on the
evening of May 9TH, and later on
landed on west side of Layson
Island. Found good anchorage in
five fathoms of water; remained at
Layson Island until the next day.
Found many parts of numerous
wrecks, evidently there several
years. The birds at Layson Island
were innumerable. Ducks that APP
pear to have descended from the
| domestic bird, were plentiful and
could be picked up by the armful.
A few dozen of the web-footed
creatures were taken aboard the
schooner, and few of them are
yet in possession of the captain.
On the same island four canary
birds were caught; in fact, they
were picked off the bushes, they
were so tame. Three of the cana
ries died from cold, but one, a
warbler, is yet aboard the schooner.
These small birds seem to have q
mixture of other birds in their COM
position, and their singing qualities
have been affected accordingly !;
that is, their voices are louder and
it might be said harsher than the
ordinary canary. Eggs on LaysOn
are so plentiful that IL is difficult to
proceed many rods without crush
ing them by the dozens; baskets
full were gathered for ships use
and good eating they afforded. On
May 18th sighted Lisiansky Island ;
lay there until daylight the next
day when a boat was sent ashore.
Found pieces of ancient wrecks and
a lot of wooden empty boxes, neatly
piled up. The covers of the boxes
were marked "Gemmen," probably
the name of some vessel that had
been wrecked there. From Lisiansky
Island the schooner headed for Her
man Reef, receiving on the way
strong northerly gales with rough
seas. On May 10Th made Ocean
Island, arriving there at daybreak.
The schooner was becalmed off the
island for six days, during which
time boats were sent ashore. The
house put up by the Hawaiian Gov
eminent was there; the tanks were
full of water; the trees planted
there by Col. Boyd's party could
not be seen; the buried meat was
untouched; the flagstaff was still
up, but the flag was not there. Ont
of the sailors of the schooner says
he saw the Hawaiian flag on thu
floor of the hut, but it is believed
that birds became dissatisfied will
the manner of Government, and il
their rebellion tore the flag to moth
ingness. The wrecked Dunnotta
Castle was completely demolished
Nothing was left to be seen OF he
except single spar sticking up on
of the water, and mutilated sea
mans chest ON the beach. The X
Au Hou could not get within fiv
miles of Ocean Island, and of cours
had to pull that distance to max
shore. On the oath Of May sal
was set for home, after voyage Q
over six weeks, without seeing tn
least vestige of the missing schoone
General Seigel. The General Seigt
/. is now believed to be thing OF tn